How far can archaeologists identify and explain social differentiation in the past by age and/or ethnicity? 30 marks

This question connects to AQA's A-level Archaeology course; unit 3, world archaeology.

Social differentiation in the past can be hard to determine because it can be seen as an abstract thing. Never the less in some cases archaeologists in some cases have used ethnographic studies, burial evidence, depictions in the past of social classes and historical records to identify and explain social differentiation in the past by ethnicity and age.

Different ethnicities can have their own customs, language, culture and beliefs. Due to the fact an ethnicity is also normally connected to their own land; this can make it easier for archaeologists to identify differences between them. From the things they have left behind archaeologists can also hope to explain their social differentiation as compared to other social groups.

An example of this could be depictions of different ethnicities in Ancient Egypt. Smiting scenes found at the temple of Karnak show a pharaoh defeating his enemies, any other ethnicity bar Egyptian. Another example form Ancient Egypt could be the Narmar pallet which shows the two sides of Egypt forming into one, helping archaeologists to explain the fusing of the two social different groups.

Ethnographic studies can also help archaeologists greatly when trying to identify social differentiation through ethnicity. For example the Lake Baringo area in Kenya shows the differentiation between social groups through the ear decorations of females. Whereas if you were to look at the pottery of the same. This example shows the troubles archaeologists can have when trying to identify and explain social differentiation in the past.

Rare examples such as inhumation number 5 found at Sprong Hill at the Anglo Saxon cemetery in Norfolk can do a lot in the way of explaining social differentiation or lack of it in the past. In this example the burial of middle-aged women of negroid ancestry showed that she was treated much the same as the rest of the community in the 10^th century. Her burial matched others found in the same cemetery at Spong Hill, also she was of good health and lacked any diseases. This meant archaeologists could conclude that in Norfolk in the 10^th cemetery there was little social differentiation between ethnicities.

Historical references can also be harnessed by archaeologists as a way of identify and explaining social differentiation in the past, such as Danelaw. At the same time as the burial of inhumation number 5 Danelaw as protecting the rights of slaves brought to England by the Vikings. From this, archaeologists can infer that slaves who were of a different ethnic origin than the local population were still treated well.

Social differentiation by age can be hard to identify. But through burials it can be been found. Child burials can confuse the image of social differentiation if, for example, a child is buried with rich grave goods it can be presumed that the child could not have gained that much wealth or prestige in the time they were alive. Therefore they are evidence of a ranked society, with wealth and maybe power running through families over generations.

In Bristey (Kent) burials of young males with swords, shields and spears, can also be seen as social differentiation by age, as a warrior class may have been determined by age.

Archaeologists can identify and explain social differentiation in the past by age and ethnicity, but there are better ways of identifying it. For example through examples of gender or through elite goods.